Railroad-switch stand



(No Model.)

W. G. MEEKER.

RAILROAD SWITCH STAND.

No. 453,245. Patented Jung 2,1891.

m2 mums nuns cu, wow-uwm, WASHINGYDN, n. c.

RM RN KW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVALTER C. MEEKER, 0F JERSEY CITY, NEIV JERSEY.

RAILROAD-SWITCH STAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,245, dated June 2, 1891.

Application filed January 12, 1887. Serial No. 224,169. v(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER O. MEEKER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Jersey City, Hudson county, New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad -Switch Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to what are termed automatic railroad-switch stands, and is especially designed for use with what are co mmonly called split or pointed switches, for the purpose of permitting an engine or train of cars to automatically operate the stand if the switch is set wrongand the train trailing the points.

The construction and operation of the stand will be readily understood by reference to the specification and drawings.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of stand, showing the position of the several parts and their relation to each other when the stand is locked in position and working automatically. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of stand with the operating-lever raised preparatory to operation of stand by hand; also showing the manner of disconnecting the spring-actuated part of the stand. Fig. 3is a plan view of Fig. 1 on line w to, showing the position of cam and spring-compressors when working automatically. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of cam and spring-compressors. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the head of main body of stand, showing slot or passage-way for connectingrod 4. Fig. 6 is a plan view of crank, show ing one method of securing the adjustable crank-pin. Another method is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a side view of the adjustable crank-pin. Fig. 8 is an end view of same. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of spring-compressor 13. Fig. 10 is a View of stop. 5

Referring by letters and figures to the accompanying drawings, the body or frame of stand AA is formed in two parts and either bolted together at the top, as shown in Fig. 5, and both secured to the base-piece D, or the head may be formed in one piece and the front part of frame A form simply an apron or cover secured in a suitable manner.

The stand is provided with main shaft B, to which are secured the cap 0 and crank E and the guide-hubs 6 and 8. Said shaft journals in the head of the stand and the stoppagepiece 19, and is continued above the main frame of stand any desired distance to receive a target or signal. der the guide-hub 8 is placed a cam 10, through which the shaft rotates freely when operated by hand. Said cam 10 is provided with holes to receive the locking-rod 5, as shown in Fig. 1. The spring-compressor 12 is placed under the cam 10, and is provided with an oblong hole, through which the shaft 13 passes, permitting a free lateral movement without interfering with said shaft B. The cam end of said compressor 12 is convex on its inner side to correspond with concave sides of cam 10. The other endis provided with two bevel projections 18, which fit the two bevelsurfaces of compressor 13. (More fully shown in Fig. 4.) The compressor 11 rests on compressor 12 and with cam end of convex form to fit cam 10, and the other end of a suitable bevel to fit compressor 13, as shown in perspective in Fig. 4, also by dotted line in Fig. 2. The spring-compressor 13 is formed round on upper end to suit the form of spring-pocket, While the lower end has two bevel-surfaces to correspond with bevel parts 18 of compressor 12 and one bevel-surface to correspond with compressor 11. Thus it will be clearly seen that by the use of the compressors 11, 12, and 13 the pressure of the spring is equally divided on the two opposite sides of the cam 10, thereby reducing the wear on the journals.

The stand can be operated equally as well by either of the compressors 11 or 12 singly; but in such case the entire pressure of the spring would be on one side of cam 10, and

thereby increase the wear on the journals.

The stoppage-piece 19 is formed with a collar which passes through the base of stand and forms a journal for lower end of shaft B. The said stoppage-piece is secured to the main frame of stand by screw-bolts 20 or other suitable means.

The cap 0 is secured to the shaft B by a key 7 and rests on head of main frame A. In the said cap 0 are pivoted the operating-lever 1 and the locking-lever 2, the lever 1 being connected with locking-lever 2 by the rod 3, and the rod 4 connects the cam-locking rod 5 to the locking-lever 2. Thus when the lever l is raised to position shown in Fig. 2'such operation lifts the locking-rod 5 out of hole 17 On the shaft B and unin cam 10, through the agency of the lockinglever 2 and the rods 3 and 1, thereby breaking all connection between the shaft B and the spring, and the stand is free to be operated by hand.

The outer end of locking-lever 2 is formed into a loop, which passes through a slot 21 in the operating-lever 1. Through thisloop end may be placed an ordinary switch-padlock to secure the lover I in position. (Shown in Fig. 1.

The crank E is secured to the lower end of shaft B, and is provided with an adjustable crank-pin 16,wl1ich is shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8. Said crank-pin may be held in position by a screw-bolt, as shown in Fig. 6, or by a screw-bolt passing through said crankpin, as shown in Fig. 1.

Experience has demonstrated that it is advantageous that the stand should have a greater throw or movement than the switch, in order to hold the points firmly against the main rails by taking up the lost motion in the several joints between the stand and switch. As this difference in throw varies according to the amount of lost motion there may be in the several joints, it is essential that the throw of the stand should be variable to admit of adjustment to each particular case. This variable throw is accomplished by the use of the eccentric crank-pin,which will give a variation of an inch or more. It is readily adjusted by loosening the screw-bolt and turning the crank-pin until all the lost motion is taken up, then tighten the bolt, and the pin is firmly held in position.

The operation of this stand is as follows: To operate the switch by hand it. is simply necessary to raise the operating-lever l to position shown in Fig. 2, which operation lifts the locking-rod 5 out of the hole 17 in cam 10, thus severing all connection between the spring and switch. After raising said lever, as just stated, rotate it one-fourth of a circle, when the rod 5 will be over another of the holes 17 in cam 10. Then by lowering said lever 1 the rod 5 will pass into the hole 17 and the switch has been thrown and stand locked, ready to be operated automatically.

The automatic operation is as follows: The operating-lever 1 being locked down, as shown in Fig. 1, alocomotive or train passing through the switch (if switch is set wrong for train and train is trailing the points) opens the points and through the agency of the connecting-bar moves the crank E and rotates the shaft B, which will bring cam 10 to position (shown in Figs. 1 and 3) through the agency of the cap and locking-levers and rods, thus compressing the spring through the further agency of the compressors 11 and 13. As soon as the point of cam passes the center of compressor 11 the pressure of'the spring is thrown on the next face of cam 10, causing the shaft B to rotate the full quarter of the circle and throwing the switchentirely over to other side and holding it there until it is again operated either by hand or automatically by a train trailing the points from the other track.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a railroad-switch stand, the combination of a non-vertically moving main shaft and a cap, an operating-lever, a spring-actuated mechanism, and a rod or pin for engaging and disengaging the main shaft and the spring-actuated mechanism, substantially shown.

2. In a railroad-switch stand, the springactuating mechanism, combined with a locking-rod operated by alever fulcrumed 111 the cap or hub of stand for the purpose of cansing a rotary movement of the said spring-actuating mechanism, the said locking-rod rotating with the operating mechanism.

3. In a railroad switch stand, the main shaft B, to which is secured the cap 0, provided with a hand operating-lever and alocking-lever operated by said hand operating-lever, in combination with a locking-rod 5, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a railroad-switch stand, the shaft B, having a guide hub or hubs secured thereto, through which passes freely a locking-rod operated by a lever fulcrumed in the cap of stand, said rod engaging with a cam on said shaft B, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described. I

5. In a railroadswitch stand, the main shaft B, having eccentrically-perforated hubs 6 and 8 and provided with a loose cam, and a cap or hub secured to said shaft B, in which is fulcrumed a lever operating a locking-rod 5, passing through said hubs, so as to engage or disengage said cam with the shaft B without moving the said cam 0r shaft B.

6. In a railroad-switch stand, the springcompressors arranged to equalize the pressure of the operating-spring by compressorblock 11 transmitting the force of the spring on one side of the cam and by block 12 on the opposite side, in combination with cam 10 and shaft B, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. In a railroad-switeh stand, the shaft B and crank E, provided with an adjustable crank-pin 16, having the end 22 turned eccentric to the lflain body 16 and secured in said crank by suitable means, for the purpose specified.

S. In a railroad-switch stand, the stoppagepiece 19, forming a bearing for the shaft B and suitably secured to the main frame of stand, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I sign my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 4th day of January, 1887.

\V. O. MEEKER.

\Vitnesses:

A. A. FRANoK, THOMAS R. BROWN. 

